Ivanpah Solar Power Plant

operational

The Ivanpah Solar Power Plant is a large solar energy facility built with taxpayer support in the Mojave Desert near the California–Nevada border. It uses reflected solar beams focused on three central towers to generate electricity. The plant was approved during the Obama administration as part of a push to expand renewable energy, receiving a $539 million grant and a $1.6 billion loan. Despite being a clean energy project, it relies on natural gas for startup and has been documented to kill thousands of birds annually due to the intense solar flux around the towers. The project remains operational under existing regulations with monitoring and mitigation requirements but no enforcement actions or fines for wildlife mortality.